As is often the case with the city of Chicago, the current crime wave has yet again caught the attention of the nation, and no one more so than former President Trump. This time, it’s the harrowing incident of a young woman being set on fire on a train, allegedly by a man with a rap sheet as long as a grocery list. With 72 past arrests, one must wonder how this individual was still crossing paths with the public instead of counting tiles on a jailhouse floor. Trump, never one to mince words, suggests he could turn the volatile Windy City into a safe haven in a mere four weeks. Whether one agrees with him or not, it seems Chicago’s leadership could use a bit of that assertive gusto.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s Mayor, Brandon Johnson, has acknowledged that the measures put in place were inadequate, which is some admission considering politicians rarely admit faults unless they’re staring trembling voters in the face. It appears Johnson has become familiar with the concept that actions—or lack thereof—have consequences, especially with an election looming closer than one thinks when swamped in political quicksand. Johnson’s reluctance to enforce tried and true safety measures like curfews in serious situations has been noted by his critics, who are not exactly singing his praises.
Enter Alderman Raymond Lopez, who points out what’s painfully obvious to anyone paying attention: Chicago’s leadership seems more bent on delivering long-winded justifications rather than tangible results. Lopez highlights a pattern of behavior that may read like a bad comic strip where justice is stuck going around and around in a revolving door. The villains, in this case, get a revolving-door justice system, and the city’s citizens are left clutching their purses a little tighter whenever they dare venture out.
What cannot be ignored is the staggering statistics of crime in this “great” city, with over 1,400 shootings and 5,000 robberies per year. It’s like hosting a crime convention, and everyone’s got their hands up—not in surrender, but in fear of what’s yet to come. To appease these worries, Trump’s offer of help stands out as a stark contrast to the current administration’s dealings, who seem to believe that if they don’t acknowledge a problem, perhaps it will just fade away. Alas, reality is not so kind.
It’s not just about Chicago’s ineffectiveness at curbing crime but also about its failure to manage immigration law enforcement efficiently. It’s tragicomedy when foreign minors end up clashing with the law at such young ages, and leadership appears inadequately prepared to face these challenges head-on. This doesn’t quite build confidence among the citizens who just want peace over the holiday season and every other day in the year. Perhaps Johnson might consider bluff-calling Trump’s promises of assistance instead of sidestepping with political double-talk. At the end of the day, Chicagoans deserve action, not excuses.
